I find that certain early CDs released in the early and mid 80s that were reported to sound harsh and strident (presumably because the process was so young) actually sound very good, and not harsh and strident. They sounded harsh and strident to some people for a number of reasons including, but not limited to, (1) the CDs were not treated, (2) the CD players were not treated, e.g. isolated, and (3) the improvement over the years of playback systems and room acoustics generally. Exhibit A - the first CD issue of Solti’s The Ring in 1984.